Beavers (Castor Canadensis)

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Beavers (Castor Canadensis)
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Contents

• Range
• Physical description
• Behavior
• Habitat
• Ecosystem Role
• Diet
• Reproduction
• Mortality

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Range

• Found throughout North America
• Except Florida, southern California, and southern
  Nevada.

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Physical Description

• Largest rodents
• Weight 40-50 lbs
• Body (including tail) 48 inches in length
• Tail 16-17 in. long, 6-7 in. wide, ¾ thick

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Behavior

• Nocturnal
• Do not hibernate
• Territory marking

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Habitat
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Dams

• Access to food supplies
• Protection from predators
• Provide underwater entrances to their den
• Build new dams during spring

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Lodges

• Only used for safety
• Rest
• Give Birth
• Raise young

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Ecosystem Role

• Maintain wetlands
• Slow down the flow of the floodwaters.
• Improve water quality
• Benefit other species habitat

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Diet

• Herbivore
• In warm months variety of aquatic plants
• During fall and winter, cambium layer of trees,
  which is the wood just under the bark.

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• Life expectancy about 10 -15 years

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Reproduction

• Breeding season Jan Feb
• Sexually mature at age 3
• Give birth one litter of kits per year
• Gestation is about 4 months
• Both parents caring for the kits till they are 2
  years old.

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Mortality

• Humans
• Bears, wolves, lynx, and otters
• External Parasites Platypsylla castoris
• Other causes of death winter weather, winter
  starvation, and disease